Patients write to PM apprising about limitations of Ayushman Bharat
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Patients write to PM apprising about limitations of Ayushman Bharat

They brought the limitations of Ayushman Bharat scheme in the notice of the Prime Minister.

Patients write to PM apprising about limitations of Ayushman Bharat

Anguished by the limitations of Ayushman Bharat scheme, more than two dozens patients undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi apprising him about the difficulties that they are facing. 

They brought the limitations of Ayushman Bharat scheme in the notice of the PM. They were facing difficulties in affording treatment as the scheme covers only Rs 5 lakh. 

Also, because of the ambitious scheme, they are not eligible to take benefits of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi scheme which provides financial assistance to patients living below poverty line and who is suffering from major life threatening diseases. 

As per the gazetted notification of Ayushman Bharat scheme, patients cannot avail the benefits of both the schemes. Therefore, many patients, who were undergoing treatments, are devoid of the benefits of Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi scheme.

Father of a patient, Vishwanath said that his son was suffering from bone cancer and the doctors have given him an estimated cost of Rs 12 lakh for the treatment. 

He said, “Bone cancer requires bone marrow transplant. We cannot afford costly private hospital charges, which normally goes above Rs 18 to 20 lakh. My application for availing Rashtriya Arogya Nidhi was dismissed by administration of social welfare department because I had Ayushaman Bharat scheme card.”

“We had a word with official PRO of AIIMS. He said that the rules have been devised by the central government and they are bound to follow it,” he added.

Ex-President, Resident Doctors' Association, AIIMS, Dr Vijay Gujjar said, “More than two dozen patients are not getting treatment bacause they cannot afford it. We are trying to raise their voice on social media platform as well.”